Month: November 2016
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There is a serious issue plaguing the gaming world and it shows no sign of slowing. Developers are delivering a lot of product, that’s for sure, but some of these games are being released before they’re really ready to hit circulation. We recently saw one of these broken games release this past Tuesday with Watch Dogs 2.

Granted, the game is not unplayable, but Multiplayer is completely offline and not available. Watch Dogs 2 has multiplayer integrated into the single player experience, (when it’s working, that is) players can enter your game and vise versa. However, Ubisoft completely pulled the feature after claiming it caused lag issues and periodic hard-crashes. Ultimately it was a good move on their part because if the game was lagging in single player and crashing all the time, gamers would be up in arms. Yet they may have benefited from holding off on the release for a couple weeks in order to resolve the issue. I’m not sure a delay would impact our decision on whether to buy the game or not, but now they’re just continuing the trend of developers releasing unfinished games.

Watch Dogs 2 isn’t the only AAA game that came out in the recent past which had issues straight out of the gate. Batman Arkham Knight by Rocksteady Studios made headlines when it was released on June 23rd, 2015 for game breaking issues on PC. It would rain inside, crash without reason or be simply unplayable. There were unprecedented refunds given by Steam. Although the game did well it ultimately didn’t make the money they needed.

The list goes on. Far Cry 4 was another game with unfortunate issues right off the bat. Just another addition to Ubisoft’s long list of games decimated with bugs and errors on launch. This isn’t just a trend isolated to one developer, it seems to be a growing phenomena. A few years ago, it was almost unheard of for a game to be released with so many problems the consumers couldn’t even play it. But now game developers only seemed concerned with releasing game after game and if one doesn’t function at first, they’ll just patch it later and move on. A bit of a slap in the face to the committed gamer, if you ask us.

An Unfortunate Trend

We here at Gigamax understand that these developers need to keep up with the competition, releasing new games at an incredible pace. When looking at the sales reports, it doesn’t even look as if these game breaking issues are having a major impact on their bottom line. Sure, the community has a lot to say when a developer releases a broken game but a big name like Ubisoft can brush bad PR off and move on. Hopefully developers will move on past this unfortunate pattern. For now, we’ll keep buying the games and reporting to the gamers so you don’t have to waste your own money.

Thoughts? Comments? Have something to add? Reach out at Gigamaxgames@gmail.com or leave a comment on Facebook or Twitter and let us know! Gigamax is as much about the community as it is about us.

I have a love/hate relationship with the Dragonball series. On one hand it is a classic series that has spanned generations, on the other it is as cheesy as anime come, filled with more tropes than many others in the genre. This is to say it is a cartoon that has plenty of flaws but they are easy to ignore due to the it’s fun and entertaining nature ripe with lovable characters many are very invested in. The Xenoverse series has perfectly captured this idea and the second in the series only perpetuates it. A love letter to long time fans that is far from perfect but those who’ve been watching since the beginning will find plenty of homages to the history of this beloved show.

Without changing much Xenoverse 2 maintains the quirky charm of the original. The story is obviously not at the forefront, with it very much feeling like a plot device to shove characters from across their universes into the game. Not getting too deep into the story, there’s some bad guys who want to ruin the time stream and you’ve got permission from the gods of time to hop into the past and put their shenanigans to rest. You’ll hop through easily recognizable events such as defeating Frieza on Namek or thwarting Lord Beerus’s plan to destroy earth. While it is fun to be a part of these historic battles the combat system leaves players yearning for more.

Combat is identical to the fighting system from the first game. It lacks that tact and skill necessary from the DBZ games of yesteryear. Gone are the intricate combos from the Budokai series (heavy sigh), these have been replaced by mahsing the same two buttons to pull off visually stunning feats. The new moves while simple admittedly make you feel more like a Z fighter than Budokai ever did. It is also incredibly simple to fire off the very flashy signature moves you learn from their respective masters. Firing off Kamehameha like Goku on a cocaine bender, is simply done by hitting two buttons. The best part of this is that you can mix and match these powers and make the character you designed exactly what you want it to be.

Xenoverse 2 has a deeper customization pallet than that of the firsts. You are able to pick between five races majin, human, saiyan, namekian, and frieza. Each of these classes comes with a host of various hairstyles and body customization options. Also available are awakening powers for each race. These powers transform what your character looks like when activated and vastly boost all of your stats. Customizing your character goes even further with various clothes and accessories you can purchase and find throughout the world. Albeit the character design leaves something to be desired but it’s a step up from the last game.

Dragonball Xenoverse 2 is very similar to the last game, leaving players with a desire for more. The content that is in the game is enjoyable to fans of the series but doesn’t have much for those that are new to the anime. A love letter to fans anyone who enjoys the cartoon will feel right at home and should absolutely purchase the game and look forward to DLC that will include more content from the Super Arc. If you’d like to see some gameplay before purchasing go check out our Let’s Play and get some insight into the game. bit.ly/2eB134E

There are very few games that have a name as well known as ‘Skyrim’ by Bethesda studios. Released five years ago on November 11, 2011, this game captured the imagination of millions of people. Over 23 million copies sold, a massive living world and nearly endless adventures, Skyrim left a huge mark on the gaming community. Now with the recent re-release, one of us here at GIGAMAX was finally able to experience this incredible video game because they missed the boat the first time around.

Mack has never played Skyrim. At the time he wasn’t playing console games and instead turned his attention to World of Warcraft and other MMO’s like Rift. When Playstation 4 was released he got back into console gaming hard. Never imagining he’d ever have the chance to play Skyrim, it was a thought that faded over time but any occasion in which a friend would bring it up, he secretly resented missing that unbelievable experience.

Now, hear from Mack’s impression of Skyrim after his first venture into the game:

I never imagined that I would get the opportunity to load up Skyrim and fight some dragons. When I first popped it in, I was a bit surprised with how quickly it loaded and was a bit concerned the world wasn’t as big as everyone always said. Games have come a far way in 5 years so I didn’t want to get my hopes up and the fact it only took 20 minutes to download and install wasn’t a great sign. But damn was I wrong.

Okay, the world didn’t seem so astonishingly large at first. I’ve played my fair share of open world games and zooming all the way out on the map didn’t blow my mind. That is until I beat that little tutorial mission and really opened up the world map. It was pretty big, surprisingly so to say the least. When I realized how damn long it was taking me to find my way around a relatively small part of the map it started to get my blood pumping. I completely ignored the first mission and ran off over waterfall and fell into the river below. Salmon swimming upstream, woodland creatures roaming around, stumbling across random villages and watching these NPC’s live a complete life was exactly what I was hoping for and I could not wait to dump hours into Skyrim like I’ve heard so many people have done before me.

30 hours in (I work full time, I wish I had 10x that) and the game is everything I have imagined. What an absolutely astonishing world, a living world and I just can’t get enough. Been having so much fun experiencing this immersive world and I’m a huge fan of the ability to have my own house that I can build onto and continue to expand. It’s sweet too, I have a bowl of apples, strategically placed books, oh and I also adopted a street kid that brings me silver and food. Beyond all the free roaming fun I’ve been having, the combat and story are both an absolute masterpiece. Fighting dragons is one of the coolest things I’ve done in a video game. It just feels as if I’m actually there slaying these winged beasts, it’s a great time.

Overall, I wish I didn’t wait so long to give Skyrim a go. In hindsight I could have just got myself an Xbox 360 and Skyrim earlier. On the other hand, it felt kind of cool being able to play it on my PS4, with improved graphics and having some friends to help give me some insight into the mechanics before I opened this expansive world. We’ll have some pictures and video up of Skyrim periodically. We are all so happy this game will live on.

Xenoverse 2

Gigs and Mack take on the new Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2. Not only do you get to create your own Dragon Ball characters, the combat makes you feel like a real Saiyan. If you’re not sure it will be worth it to buy another Anime game that doesn’t really deliver, take a quick look at our test run. But from first impressions, this game delivered some fun and exciting experiences in the short time we had with it. Feel free to see for yourself!

The HD remake is an interesting concept that is relatively new to the gaming industry. Games that would have once been forgotten and left on the shelf to collect dust now have a second chance to entice players that may have missed it the first time around, or remind returning users why the game was so great. This idea started as a small trend that saw lesser known games like the last generation being revived and quickly turned into a torrent of triple A remakes from all throughout gaming history. Although HD remake is a term used to describe the genre, it is very broad and it’s simply not fair to compare the love some developers put into their remakes while others seem to be going for nothing more than a quick cash crab.

Remastered editions like Skyrim:Special Edition know how to show love to the history of the game. Remakes like this come with vastly improved graphics and content which feels like a more refined experience. It is impressive to see some of the work done to almost every aspect of games that were already amazing. On the other side of the spectrum are games like Hitman HD Trilogy. This reboot was plagued with problems that had existed in the original and was still being run at 720p resolution. Laziness like this leaves the genre with a stigma that makes many wary to spend hard earned cash on them.

HD remakes are not cheap either, with many price points being set at the same rate as the original release. Considering a videogame in the U.S. currently runs consumers around $60, this is a steep number to ask for something that is already a year or more old. Many developers try to ease people’s worries by including all the downloadable content as well as pre-order bonuses. It’s very rare but sometimes entirely new content will also be added too, but this may be locked behind another paywall.

HD remakes may have a small stigma to them but it does not stop people from making the purchase. The sheer amount of these remakes that get released is proof the industry is still seeing a profit from remastered blockbusters. A ton of these games are worth the time and money, but always remember to do research before committing to a purchase. In the end, whether or not this style of game is toxic to the industry or a nice way to play old games has yet to be determined. But if you’re interested in learning more about these titles make sure you check out all our latest reviews here!

Battlefield 1 | What To Expect

First-person shooters have gone through some serious transformations in recent years. From classics like Call of Duty 2 and Battlefield 1942 to Call of Duty: Infinite warfare and Battlefield 4, things have changed dramatically. Battlefield 1 was one of the shooters that were able to come out, against the mold, and make a name for itself by standing out above the mash up of AAA shooters that came out in October and early November.

This game has us hooked, EA DICE delivered big time. Releasing close to other major shooters like Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Titanfall 2, Battlefield has most of my attention.; Cinematic multi-player moments happen nearly every few minutes and the action is filled with dramatic highs and unsettling lows. The phrase “It’s too quiet” has been shouted between Gigs and I, more than a few times. These low intensity points are almost always followed up with some kind of ambush style attack from a majority of the 32 players on the other team. Battlefield 1 really does an incredible job capturing and immersing you, so as to feel like your life is truly in danger in the trenches of a World War I warzone.

When it comes to the campaign, players run through segmented campaigns called ‘War Stories’. For those that don’t know much about World War I, there we’re battles happening all over Europe so each War Story offers the player a unique perspective of this tragic event in history. Each one of the campaigns is a wildly different and an exciting experience. The campaigns weren’t particularly long but have plenty of replay value. Shooters aren’t usually a game I go back and replay missions in the campaign, but Battlefield 1 takes the cake for calling me back over and over to the story missions.

Innovative Gameplay

Back to multiplayer, there’s a new kind of game mode that is really interesting called, Operations. This is a mode where the teams play across multiple maps trying to take and hold objectives along the way. When one team runs out of tickets, the winning/attacking team will charge to clear the area. If you find yourself on team that became overrun, you have to retreat from the area and regroup with the friendly army spawning behind you. It really is an innovative take on a multiplayer mode and one that can lead to some pretty epic journeys that span multiple landscapes.

Overall Battlefield 1 delivered an amazing first-person shooter experience and one that will continue to introduce new and enjoyable content round after round. The campaign was an unbelievable adventure, as each War Story delivered an unforgettable perspective on World War I. This will definitely be a shooter that lasts unlike EA DICE’s last Battlefield, Hardline. EA DICE really came to deliver with Battlefield I and I can’t wait to see how they continue to build on this magnificent shooter.

Here at GIGAMAX, we don’t like to assign a number to a game because it simplifies the experience, and as every gamer knows; a game is much more than just a number. For Battlefield 1, I would have to describe it as a cinematic, exciting experience and a truly unforgettable experience which delivers an incredible and immersive gaming experience. Thank you all so much for reading, if you would like to see some gameplay you can check out our most recent ‘Let’s Play’ here.

Battlefield 1

EA DICE did something incredible with Battlefield 1. This gritty, action packed first person shooter is something that will be remembered. The campaign offers an immersive and cinematic experience that truly feels like you’re fighting for your life. Gigs and Mack wanted to bring you in on some of this action. Below you will find the GIgamax Battlefield 1 Playlist.

From the campaign to scores of heart stopping multiplayer action, the Battlefield 1 Playlist has it all. Be sure to check back for all the latest updates as Gigs and Mack will be constantly adding new content as time goes on. EA DICE continues to release new DLC and updates and the Gigamax crew couldn’t be happier. As the game continues to evolve, you can be sure Gigs and Mack will continue to play Battlefield 1.

We hope you all enjoy our peak at Battlefield 1 Campaign and Multiplayer. If you want more, consistent and exciting gameplay of the latest games, make sure you subscribe to keep up with the action. GIGAMAX on YouTube

Thank you all so much for taking the time to join us at Gigamax Games!

In a market over saturated with games that feel it’s necessary to launch you into space with a slew of advanced tech, Titanfall manages to stand out above the typical future based shooter. This sequel accomplishes the same intense mix of ground/robot combat mix that made the original unique and makes it feel much more natural, engaging, and exciting This entry also adds a campaign mode, satisfying many critics of the original’s lack thereof. While the game is a fun romp through kill hallways in campaign mode and action packed battle grounds of multiplayer, it is not without its flaws. These slip-ups don’t ruin the experience but they are something the development team should look back at and fine tune to make the next game perfect.

Titanfall 2 is made with the action packed shooter fan in mind, those that enjoy games like Call of Duty and Battlefield will feel right at home with the controls and may even discover a newfound love of mech fighters along the way. While the gunplay and movement feel fluid, you are left with a generic list of guns to test these improved mechanics with. The lack of diversity in firearms leaves the firefights feeling a little repetitive, if only because you will quickly find two guns that can easily carry you to the end of the level or multiplayer match. Luckily the game has its fast and easy-to-use movement system that encourages constant travel to make every combat experience feel fresh and unique despite the lack of an arsenal.

Let’s move onto the main reason most play Titanfall: the Titans. Titan combat feels faster, more diverse, and more intense than its predecessor. Gone are the three generic Titan shells: small, medium, and large. These boring frames have been replaced by completely unique titan classes that each come with their own set of powers and weapons. For example, players are able to use the ‘Ronin’ class Titan which comes with a sword and a short distance teleport ability, or they can equip the ‘Ion’ class which lets the player use a variety of laser based weaponry. Another great change to the Titans is the awesome cinematic kills that snap the camera out to third person as your machine gracefully tears apart the enemy’s giant robot.

With all the good additions Respawn Entertainment has made, it’s expected that their would be a few downsides to this otherwise great game. One of the biggest complaints to be had is the overly generic plot that is rife with cheesy military dialogue. The initial conversations with your mechanized companion ‘BT’ are endearing at first, as his trivial understanding of human based emotions lead to some funny conversations, but ultimately these jokes become overused very quickly. Platforming sections are littered throughout the campaign, and for the most part they are fun ways to split up the fighting sequences. The only problem with these parts is the game is very quick to show you how to get through them, eliminating any challenge that they may have posed.

Overall Titanfall 2 was an amazing experience I would recommend to anyone looking for a new high intensity shooter and wants a little more than the standard running and gunning. The game’s campaign, while short and lacking an interesting plot, was still a great time and multiplayer will keep players coming back for more with a plethora of different game modes and levels to gain. Respawn Entertainment has made a game that can compete with today’s big name shooters, and hopefully this series will be here to stay.

Virtual Reality has always been an eluding dream for gamers of all kinds. We had some novelty VR experiences out there, at Disney, Arcades and other attractions. They were cool, exciting, but the user had little to no control over their experience in that interactive digital world. These past couple years has finally broke that trend, letting VR users explore and open and interactive world. Many of the systems out there, Oculus, Vive even cheaper versions like Google Cardboard was this technologies segway into the consumer market. The virtual world was nearly upon us.

VR gaming offers the user an experience that was next to impossible to achieve without this incredible technology. The first time I put on my Playstation VR and became completely immersed in the gaming world, I was shocked and bewildered. I fell in love with this incredible way to game. The second I unboxed my Playstation VR I knew it was going to be something mindblowing. It looked like a fighter jet helmet when you first opened that slick packaging it came in. (This really doesn’t have anything to do with the system or the technology, but the box it came it is something to note. It was a sleek white box and to open it, you pushed the top back and it kind of looked like a treasure chest. The only thing that would have made it cooler would be a light shining up and “ahhh” was sang when it opened.)

PSVR – Impression

The first game I played on the VR was “No Man’s Sky”, before you look it up, no, it is not VR compatible. But playing non-VR games on Playstation VR is still an experience. It opens the game screen up inside the visor, basically acting like a personal IMAX theater. I purchased my VR at the midnight release and had work early in the morning so I started the download of Eve Valkyrie(a Playstation VR compatible game) and wanted to at least try the thing out before I went to bed, so ‘No Man’s Sky” was my go-to.

First, I looked around at the world of this alien planet., a bit disappointed I was still playing in 2D. I walked around a little bit, with each step becoming a little more amazed by this technology that was strapped around my head. Before long, my character wandered off a cliff and plummeted into the water below. Instinctively I threw my hands up, controller goes flying, thinking I’m actually falling off a damn cliff.

My first run of a VR compatible game was right after work the day of release. Valkyrie was downloaded and I was ready for my first go at a true Virtual Reality experience. It was everything I could have imagined and more. I was completely immersed in this world filled with spaceships and enemy threats,. The first mission had me flying this incredible craft through the void of space and I was watching my hands minic my controls as this spaceship pilot. I saw my shoulders, the inside of my craft from every angle, and tracking targets to the left and right of me with my eyes and head., It truly made me feel as though I was in this craft, billions of miles away flying through space. As cool as it was, I do have to admit there are areas which the technology and games need to improve.

Limitations vs. Functionality

The Playstation VR functioned great, easy to set up and delivered an extremely thrilling Virtual Reality experience. However, the resolution was something that threw me off at first. I was a bit confused, expecting to see a 1080p screen in front of my eyes and instead saw this slightly pixilated, holographic world that surrounded me. When I say ‘slightly pixilated’ I am more referring to the way a holographic playing card looks when you shift it to perform its action. It was strange and took a little time to get used to. Yet, after putting a few hours in, I completely forgot about the slight imperfection in the screens resolution.

There is one thing I need from my Playstation VR that it just can’t deliver on, a full fledged single-player adventure game. Granted, it has been only a few weeks since the hardware became available to the masses. Resident Evil 7 is something to look forward to, but the games that are coming out which have VR aspects are usually only available on some levels. Call of Duty Infinite Warfare, Tomb Raider, Battlefront just to name a few games that are coming out with VR missions. But these are really the only things that I have against Playstation VR, other than that it’s a good buy.

Thank you all so much for reading, hope you enjoyed my impression of Playstation VR and Virtual Reality gaming in general. We as gamers have come so far and the technology only continues to get cooler. Can’t wait to see how this technology progresses in the next few years. In all honestly, the next few months have a lot in store as well. Check back soon for more reviews, tech and industry news!

*Disclaimer time: We Happy Few is early access, and so it’s not a complete game. Compulsion Games has said that it is “feature complete” but the story has been held back so that players can get a feel for the game in early access. *

We Happy Few, is one of those games that was destined to be disappointing right out of the gate. After a stellar showing at E3, and a whole lot of media hype, the early access quietly launched in July of this year. From the first showing at E3, you would not be remiss to think this is a game with a strong story, about a repressed 1960s England full of censorship and happy pills. You might, however, be disappointed with the story. Under that happy cherry opening segment lies a fairly robust survival game backed up with solid mechanics and an amply stimulating sandbox world, but the story will have to be really strong to stand up on its own. Permadeath can make things frustrating when you get a run of bad luck, but you can always turn it off. Based on the Beta, this isn’t a story driven game in any sense of the word. To be fair, the game may have story at some point, and the developers have put the bones of a story in, but as of now We Happy Few is just missing reasons for its objectives, something I’m sure can be added later on.

So what do you get with this game? A robust survival-based game, set in a fun world of 1960s England full of interesting things to explore and find and craft. If you haven’t seen the intro video from E3, here. That should give you a pretty feeling for what the game looks like. Visually, it accurately captures the atmosphere of the 60s. Bright colors and plastic things abound, and the early bright environments in the beginning of the game stand in stark contrast to the first game play area, which is mostly gritty and a muted earth tone.

I was surprised to find this was a survival game, as the E3 trailer made it look like more of a story driven sort of game narrative based action. The game has plenty of action, but as of now, there is no story beyond that introduction you see in that video. That doesn’t mean there isn’t more to understand about the world, just that in terms of narration and other story based elements, the developers are holding that back for now. What you get for story is a whole lot of flavor. if you stop to read the text in the intro section for example, you get an understanding of the happiness drug, as well as a frame narrative and some story background. In case you don’t want to read it, I’ll summarize: WWII is over, the allies lost, Britain is a colony of Germany. To combat sadness, a drug has been invented to keep people happy. This pill is the “joy” we heard about in the trailer, and seems to be a main plot point of the game. Those who refuse to take their joy are called “downers” and exiled to a rundown part of the city.

Story stuff aside what this game really is a great survival game. After playing the game’s intro section I was set off into the open world to explore. Basically, you wake up in an old tube tunnel and go from there. This brief second tutorial has us collecting a few raw materials, doing a bit of crafting, and finishing your first “mission”. Then it’s out of the tunnel and on your own. Exiting the tunnel takes you to the dreary surface world, where other burned out “downers” like you make their home.

Like most survival games, you will need to pay attention to various meters in this game. In this case we manage 3 resources for living and a stamina meter. Yes there is combat in this game, but let’s talk about those meters first. Just like most survival games, We Happy Few starts you out with very few raw materials, so you have to immediately start looking for clean water, food, and weapons.

My biggest problem was finding a place to sleep. Sleep is a real resource here, and needs to be managed. After a short time, if you don’t sleep you end up not able to run or fight in an efficient manner. I had no trouble finding food and water, but finding a safe place to sleep was a serious issue. Food was pretty common, but a lot of it was spoiled, and could cause sickness. When sick, the player would not get anything on their hunger meter, and vomit the food up. Sickness can be countered by precious pills that are sprinkled throughout the map. These rare resources tend to only come with combat, so sadly being a peaceful gatherer doesn’t seem to be an option.

Let’s talk about that combat: It’s all Melee based (from what I could see), and it’s a very basic system. Weapons are primitive, like you might find in a destroyed town. The most powerful weapon I was able to find was a cricket bat, which was a one hit kill on most enemies. Other weapons included sticks, rocks, and a few other random items found around. Later, crafting can get you traps and other things to use for combat.

I found the crafting to be quite fun, and very in-depth. I hope they will add more recipes and more cooking later on, but for now it has enough to keep it interesting. You can craft a lot of basic things right now using simple base materials and this is important to surviving in the world you’re dropped into. The game’s starter area is quite well populated, and most people are docile until provoked. I did find a few hostile folks early on, and in some cases found myself straight-up murdered. Did I mention this game features Permadeath? Yeah, it does. So when you die, you gotta start all over again.

Timewise, folks should have no issue with the value they get for their game. I was able to map about 40% of the first map in my longest play through. Two hours of play and that was just 40% of the first area. This is going to be a large game, with many NPC’s and quests to do, in addition to the simple survival objectives.

The game creates a dilemma between wanting to explore and find raw resources, and wanting to stay close enough to home to not die. There are other games that have nailed this in the past, but as far as I can tell,We Happy Few is doing it in a vastly different way. The combat feels fast and fresh, the crafting isn’t cumbersome, and the permadeath keeps things interesting. If Compulsion can get a story shoehorned into this game without hurting the broad open world feel, this one is going to be a big hit.

We Happy Few is available in the steam early access program right now, and in the eshop from Microsoft and Sony.